Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Aeroplane Jelly Song

I've got a song that won't take very long,
Quite a good sort of note if I strike it . . .
It is something we eat, and I think it's quite sweet,
And I know you are going to like it.

I like Aeroplane Jelly
Aeroplane Jelly for me.
I like it for dinner, I like it for tea,
A little each day is a good recipe,

The quality's high as the name will imply,
And it's made from pure fruits, one more good reason why...

I like Aeroplane Jelly
Aeroplane Jelly for me.

It is difficult to describe the significance of this song to those who did not experience it growing up in Australia.

The song was written by Albert Lenertz, the business partner of Bert Apleroth, founder of the company which created Aeroplane Jelly crystals. Originally performed as a radio jingle in 1930 it has continued in use to the present day. In the 1940s it was played on radio up to 100 times a day (charming as it is, this is a horrifying thought). Aeroplane Jelly Crystals are still Australia's best-selling brand.

5 comments:

I am Albert Leonard's great grandson. I like your version of the song it's funny. I have been searching him on the net recently and have been happy to find so much info about him, because we don't know that much.

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The Idea

This blog was inspired by John Boden's "Folk Song A Day" blog, featuring mostly unaccompanied renditions of English folk songs.

I thought that Australia Day was a good time to start an Australian version*. While some of the songs will be previously-recorded songs, most will be recorded for this blog. I plan to use a variety of arrangement styles and recording approaches. While I will attempt to record versions of these songs which are pleasant to listen to, this is more of an archiving project than a recording venture.

I'm hoping that this will be a site where new and old songs can be gathered and where the visitors to the site will share in the rich history and texture of the lovely conglomeration that is Australian traditional song.

*Australia Day is January 26. My blog accounts time was set to UK time when I started the blog. This explains why the first entry is now marked January 27. Changing the time in February is also the reason there are 29 entries for February. You can't have too much of a good thing!

About Me

John Thompson has toured internationally with Nicole Murray as cloudstreet. He has performed on stages around the world for over 30 years. In his former life as a criminal-law barrister, John dazzled and amazed with his tales of high fiction. As part of the comedy duo, Never the Twain, John hosted the Variety Breakfast at over 10 Woodford Folk Festivals, with a stellar array of guests, including former Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke (who was persuaded to lead the crowd in a chorus of Solidarity Forever). John has lead teams to victory in many Woodford Great Debates. He maintains an active interest in politics, current events and the absurd. And he sings.
John has served on the committee of the Queensland Folk Federation and as president of Folk Alliance Australia. He has served as the co-ordinator of the Maleny Celtic Winter School and the Brisbane Folk History Project, and is currently performing the role of the Song Man in the Australian production of the National Theatre of Great Britain's War Horse.